Author: evacaroline

Mother, grandmother, have lived with secondhand tools (shops and internet) for over 35 years. Living in East Devon near cliff tops. Four fantastic grandchildren. One who battled meningoccocal septacaemia at 10 months and still battles the awful ongoing effects of that illness. Great boy, positive, determined, outgoing. Other grandson is on the Asperger autistic syndrome and again is positive, determined, outgoing, and very bright. Then two granddaughters 6 & 6. Lovely girls, both happy, loving and with attitude.

This set of Turning & Mechanaical Manipulation by Charles Holtzapffel (I think I have spelt that correctly) has just come into stock. Holtzapffels wpecialized in lathes for ornamental turning but also made a name for its high-quality edge and boring tools. The creme de la creme. These books are in excellent condition and only priced at £49 for the three.

We went out to Langton Long on Tuesday to buy tools – as we do. A very large converted circular stable block in lovely grounds at Langton Long. Again a lovely lady, a beautiful apartment, It was very spacious and gracious. But the amazing thing was that the stable block had once belong to a large country house, Langton House, but the house was demolished in 1949 (blown up) because no one had a use for it. The kitchen wing, The Brew House, the South block, the stables, etc., are still there but not the house.

On the way home we went into a pub for lunch and standing in the garden were two full size driftwood horses. Wonderful sculptures – probably expensive.

It was a hot day and they obviously needed a drink and a nibble. Had a a lovely day out (but on business) but it was hot and I was glad to sit in our garden for a cold drink.

It was a lovely weekend last weekend and we decided to go to the Tolpuddle Festival. (Sunday 16 July). Brilliant weather, masses of people, great bands good food (the Village Hall committee did a fantastic job – cakes, sandwiches, quiches, flans, salads (fund raising for the village hall) – and of course there were excellent food stalls in the fields themselves.

Perhaps you don’t know the story of Tolpuddle so I am quoting here “

Loveless and five fellow workers – his brother James, James Hammett, James Brine, Thomas Standfield and Thomas’s son John – were charged with having taken an illegal oath. But their real crime in the eyes of the establishment was to have formed a trade union to protest about their meagre pay of six shillings a week – the equivalent of 30p in today’s money and the third wage cut in as many years.

With the bloody French Revolution and the wrecking of the Swing Rebellion fresh in the minds of the British establishment, landowners were determined to stamp out any form of organised protests. So when the local squire and landowner, James Frampton, caught wind of a group of his workers forming a union, he sought to stamp it out.

Workers met either under the sycamore tree in the village or in the upper room of Thomas Standfield’s cottage. Members swore of an oath of secrecy – and it was this act that led to the men’s arrest and subsequent sentence of seven years’ transportation.

In prison, George Loveless scribbled some words: “We raise the watchword, liberty. We will, we will, we will be free!” This rallying call underlined the Martyrs’ determination and has since served to inspire generations of people to fight against injustice and oppression.

Transportation to Australia was brutal. Few ever returned from such a sentence as the harsh voyage and rigours of slavery took their toll.

After the sentence was pronounced, the working class rose up in support of the Martyrs. A massive demonstration marched through London and an 800,000-strong petition was delivered to Parliament protesting about their sentence.

After three years, during which the trade union movement sustained the Martyrs’ families by collecting voluntary donations, the government relented and the men returned home with free pardons and as heroes.

We spent about four hours wandering around the fields of people. So many Union Stands. singing, and then a long procession. And we met Jeremy Corbyn as he arrived . Nice low profile man. But made a brilliant speech at the end of the procession.

I think there is a lot that is relevant in the Tolpuddle rebellion. In those days an 800,000 petition was amazing. Perhaps there is a message somewhere in all this for us.

Its Wednesday and I have a lot to do today. Some of it totally and utterly for myself – pedicure etc. Also a visit to the recycling centre (I am a total dejunker so three items to go) plus a visit to Lidls. But the pedicure, etc., was the most important as far as I am concerned.

Get everything together, allow myself lots of time, get in the car, turn the key – nothing. Battery, etc., fine. So leave the vehicle for 10 minutes and then turn key again – and again nothing. Gerry of course is not here – out buying tools.

Pulled myself together, and rescheduled. Cancelled pedicure but recycling, Lidls this afternoon when the other car is back. And long chat with garage as to whether the vehicle (we call the Fiat vehicle – it is a mobility vehicle) is economical to keep on the road.

Just into stock: 13 Antique Plumbers Tools including Pipe Staving, Pipe Yarning Tools (Hollow, Side Cranked & solid Chisels) 6″ to 9″ long.
More for the collector – not sure if anyone would use them but if they want to the tools are in good condition. Emal us or fill in the form!

This pair by I. Wilkinson & Sons, Sheffield with solid brass handle and steel blade is 14.1/2″ (375 mm) long

This pair by R. Heinosch, Inventor Newark N.J. U.S.A with steel handle and blade
is 14.1/2″ (375 mm) long

Both pairs were in regular use until recently. Now on the secondhandtools website. To me they are very heavy but apparently they would rest on the cutting table as the tailor used them.

“The lower blade rests on the table and in some instances the lug under the finger loops touches the table as well so the problem with the sheer weight of the shears does not exist as the table carries the weight. The lug also works if you need to lean on the shears to get extra pressure in a heavy cut or heavy fabric.

There is a finger sized gap in front of the finger loop. it is designed to be hooked with the index finger so that it pulls your thumb into the right place and importantly, it increases your capacity to lift the front of the shears. Without this leverage you increase the load on your wrist and have a lot less control”